After a tough go these past few months, I am off on a short solo trip to find myself again. For some reason, I think I may be lost on a mountain in North Wales. Yes, it is a strange place for someone that hates to fly, has a fear of heights and hasn’t really loved the outdoors for the past say 50 years.
I am a very, very, very fearful flyer. This trip was strangely different. Sure, it may be the meds but I had almost no anxiety about the flight. This calmness made me nervous. Poor Mrs. Koog had to listen to my nervous banter about being calm for an entire morning. Is this how normal people travel? I must have asked her this question 100 times in 100 different ways. I may have also asked in Spanish, German and Welsh.
Anyway, I got to the airport and was able to use my charm, good looks and credit card to upgrade to first class for a couple hundred bucks. I don’t want to discount my charm and good looks, but it seemed the lady was mostly interested in the credit card.
The Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse was very nice and had good food. I was able to write and post my “Broken” blog while enjoying a Pork Cheek and Arugula Flatbread and some Diet Coke. We were the first ones to board and I may have been the second person on the plane. At this point, some anxiety kicked in a bit and I took 1 Ativan. This is unbelievable since I’m usually drugged up on 4 of them by the time I board.
The food was good, the service was great, and the flight was uneventful. I particularly enjoyed the lay flat bed and pajamas. I think pajamas should be given to everyone on an overnight flight.
We landed almost an hour early, I grabbed my bags and jumped on the shuttle to Enterprise Rental Car. The rental car man was very nice and talked me into all the extra insurance coverage. He also kept trying to upgrade me to an SUV. I explained I wanted the smallest car they had and he finally stopped before I downgraded from economy to bicycle.
After a near miss in the parking lot of Enterprise (someone had not practiced “stay to the left” and it was not me this time!) I was on the road to Conwy in North Wales. Due to my inability to have clear thoughts for the past few months, I accidentally made my housing reservation for March 5 & 6 forgetting I was not landing until the 6th. So, I was only in the Conwy house overnight.
Anyway, I made the 4 hour drive (so long because I may have taken a wrong exit) to Conwy and that too was pretty uneventful. My house was on the bottom of Chapel Street. The house was super cute. I unloaded my bags and had to move the car to the public parking lot about a 5 minute walk away. As I started driving up Chapel Street, I realized the street was 6 inches wide and was nearly vertical. Luckily I was going slow because I hit 5 consecutive rear view mirrors driving up the street. Holy F. I pulled over and started making notes with my information. A nice man was SPRINTING up this vertical climb to tell me I didn’t do any damage and not to worry about it. He also asked if I was American.
With the car accidents behind me, I happily parked the car and headed into back into Conwy. I had an awesome walk around the castle walls and in the little town I love so much. The teen Koogs were disappointed when I told them I passed their favorite store, The Knight Shop, yet still did not spring for the suit of armor, life size sculpture of a wolf or the katana. The sun was out and the Quay side was busy with boats coming in after a day of fishing.
I made my way to Dylans, a restaurant we went to in Llandudno in 2023 that now had a place in Conwy. The Braised Feather Blade of Welsh Beef in peppercorn sauce was just as amazing as I remember and the server was lovely. After I ate, I headed to the delicatessen across the street to grab some food for tomorrow’s hike. Pork Pie, Dragon Cheddar, Welsh Cakes, Grapes, and Aero Bar would be on the menu for the hike.
At this point, I headed back to my house because I was exhausted. It was around 5pm. I had to sleep. I slept until about 10pm, called the Koogs back in Maryland and Momma Koog in NY since it was only 5pm EST. After my chats, tried to get back to sleep but it was not to be. I thought I’d get up and shower because I had not done that yet since I basically passed out when I walked back into the house. There was just one small problem, the house was FREEZING. Like, the toilet seat was like sitting on a block of ice. I sprinted across the hall back to my bed and under the warm blankets. Unfortunately, there was no more sleep to be had and I basically watched the 3 part reunion of the Real Housewives of Potomac and 2 Datelines I had downloaded before I left the States.
The alarm went off at 5am and while I was still awake, I was freezing and didn’t want to get out of the bed! I got dressed under the covers and went downstairs to prepare my camera gear and hiking pack for the day. It was then, about 15 minutes before I left the house, I found the “House Instruction Guide” written by the owners. What a handy guide! It had everything one needs to know that is renting the place, including where the thermostat was located and how to turn on the heat! I am a dumb dumb.
I walked the few minutes in the totally still and quiet Conwy to get my car, drive it to the house and load up. This time as I drove up Chapel Street, I didn’t hit anything! It was just under an hour drive from where I was staying to where I was meeting Simon, the landscape photographer I was hiking with both Friday and Sunday. And what a drive it was…
For some reason, I cannot judge the distance from the passenger side of the car to the edge of the road. I hit several curbs at speed, once there was a spark. Unfamiliar with their light/cone system for single late closures, I turned back onto my side of the road too soon and took down about 20 cones weaving in and then out of the construction zone. Luckily, no construction workers were on the road at 6am. I ran into/through several hedges. Oh, and I was driving at least 40 miles UNDER the speed limit. I’m pretty sure the people behind me thought I was drunk. Or maybe they knew I was American?
I finally made it to the parking lot where I would meet Simon. I was a bit early, so I got out to prep my camera gear and food for the hike. But first, I thought I should check the passenger side of the car to see if there was any damage. Upon getting out of the car, the smell of burning rubber was strong even on the driver’s side. As I made my way to the passenger side, I noticed why. The tire had been rubbed pretty raw and there was a piece/chunk hanging off of it. Also, the rims were scratched down to the shiny metal. Oh and there was only one small scratch that removed the paint down to the steel from the front to the back on the bottom of the car. I am so glad I was talked into all that insurance!
Anyway, Simon came and we chatted as we got geared up for the hike and we were chatting about the smell of burning rubber in the air. I mentioned my driving issues and he checked over my tire and car. After laughing, he said it should be fine but I should stay away from curbs moving forward.
The day was too amazing to recall all the details. We hiked more than 10 miles and nearly 1000 feet of elevation. Stopping many times to find the perfect vantage point for photographs. We had Eryri (Snowdonia) pretty much to ourselves and it was magical. The mountain lakes and the reflections were beautiful. We encountered many cascades and interesting trees and just the most beautiful vistas. While I wanted to photograph all of them, for some I just stayed present and in the moment so I could soak up the peace and beauty to fill my very depleted cup of joy and peace.
One funny story, as we were descending a rather steep part of the mountain, Simon was in front of me. I slipped on a very slick rock and slid to within inches of taking him out like a bowling pin. Luckily for both of us, I literally popped upright just as he was turning around. Saving him a broken leg and me utter embarrassment!
As the day grew to a close and all the photos were taken, we loaded our respective cars and prepared to leave my beautiful Eryri having climbed (but not to the summit ) Yr Wyddf, experienced Cwm Idwal and seen the mighty Tryfan. It was a magical day spent with a great new friend. So great of a friend, he let me follow him out so as to not endanger anymore of the beautiful Welsh landscape or myself.
I arrived at my accommodation just on the outskirts of Wrexham called Cefn Park. A gorgeous stately property which several different holiday lets available. I rented the Butler’s Flat. After I parked my car, I needed to use the bathroom in a rather emergent way, so I left all my bags in the car, got the key from the key box and headed up the stairs to my home for the next 4 days. No issue getting in, the place was beautiful and clean and the bathroom worked as expected with all the necessary equipment to relieve oneself. I sat for a moment in the kitchen, had a drink of water then was leaving the flat to retrieve my bags and gear. Just one small hiccup…I was unable to actually open the door from the inside.
After multiple tries to solve my problem on my own, I finally contacted the owner who was on his way to assist. I had for gotten to mention my odor from hiking more than 10 miles and sliding around in mud and God knows how much sheep poo. I smelled so bad. In the few minutes it took him to get to my flat, I tried to figure out how to hid the stench. I opened the windows since it was such a nice day, but that barely touched it. As he arrived and came in, I blurted out in a not so elegant way, “I’m really sorry I smell like a sheep. I’ve been hiking all day and have extreme body odor and I’m American.” Super smooth, Koog.
He was very gentlemenly about it and said since he had been working in his cow barn, he didn’t smell anything. I’m not sure if I was happy or sad about his nose blindness. Anyway, he was able to fix the issue with the lock and I was able to get my gear upstairs and finally take a much needed shower. I was too tired to go out to get any groceries so I ate what I had left from the day 1/2 a pork pie, 1 welsh cake and 1/4 Aero chocolate bar. I called my family to be sure they knew I was alive and headed to bed.
I am a very, very, very fearful flyer. This trip was strangely different. Sure, it may be the meds but I had almost no anxiety about the flight. This calmness made me nervous. Poor Mrs. Koog had to listen to my nervous banter about being calm for an entire morning. Is this how normal people travel? I must have asked her this question 100 times in 100 different ways. I may have also asked in Spanish, German and Welsh.
Anyway, I got to the airport and was able to use my charm, good looks and credit card to upgrade to first class for a couple hundred bucks. I don’t want to discount my charm and good looks, but it seemed the lady was mostly interested in the credit card.
The Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse was very nice and had good food. I was able to write and post my “Broken” blog while enjoying a Pork Cheek and Arugula Flatbread and some Diet Coke. We were the first ones to board and I may have been the second person on the plane. At this point, some anxiety kicked in a bit and I took 1 Ativan. This is unbelievable since I’m usually drugged up on 4 of them by the time I board.
The food was good, the service was great, and the flight was uneventful. I particularly enjoyed the lay flat bed and pajamas. I think pajamas should be given to everyone on an overnight flight.
We landed almost an hour early, I grabbed my bags and jumped on the shuttle to Enterprise Rental Car. The rental car man was very nice and talked me into all the extra insurance coverage. He also kept trying to upgrade me to an SUV. I explained I wanted the smallest car they had and he finally stopped before I downgraded from economy to bicycle.
After a near miss in the parking lot of Enterprise (someone had not practiced “stay to the left” and it was not me this time!) I was on the road to Conwy in North Wales. Due to my inability to have clear thoughts for the past few months, I accidentally made my housing reservation for March 5 & 6 forgetting I was not landing until the 6th. So, I was only in the Conwy house overnight.
Anyway, I made the 4 hour drive (so long because I may have taken a wrong exit) to Conwy and that too was pretty uneventful. My house was on the bottom of Chapel Street. The house was super cute. I unloaded my bags and had to move the car to the public parking lot about a 5 minute walk away. As I started driving up Chapel Street, I realized the street was 6 inches wide and was nearly vertical. Luckily I was going slow because I hit 5 consecutive rear view mirrors driving up the street. Holy F. I pulled over and started making notes with my information. A nice man was SPRINTING up this vertical climb to tell me I didn’t do any damage and not to worry about it. He also asked if I was American.
With the car accidents behind me, I happily parked the car and headed into back into Conwy. I had an awesome walk around the castle walls and in the little town I love so much. The teen Koogs were disappointed when I told them I passed their favorite store, The Knight Shop, yet still did not spring for the suit of armor, life size sculpture of a wolf or the katana. The sun was out and the Quay side was busy with boats coming in after a day of fishing.
I made my way to Dylans, a restaurant we went to in Llandudno in 2023 that now had a place in Conwy. The Braised Feather Blade of Welsh Beef in peppercorn sauce was just as amazing as I remember and the server was lovely. After I ate, I headed to the delicatessen across the street to grab some food for tomorrow’s hike. Pork Pie, Dragon Cheddar, Welsh Cakes, Grapes, and Aero Bar would be on the menu for the hike.
At this point, I headed back to my house because I was exhausted. It was around 5pm. I had to sleep. I slept until about 10pm, called the Koogs back in Maryland and Momma Koog in NY since it was only 5pm EST. After my chats, tried to get back to sleep but it was not to be. I thought I’d get up and shower because I had not done that yet since I basically passed out when I walked back into the house. There was just one small problem, the house was FREEZING. Like, the toilet seat was like sitting on a block of ice. I sprinted across the hall back to my bed and under the warm blankets. Unfortunately, there was no more sleep to be had and I basically watched the 3 part reunion of the Real Housewives of Potomac and 2 Datelines I had downloaded before I left the States.
The alarm went off at 5am and while I was still awake, I was freezing and didn’t want to get out of the bed! I got dressed under the covers and went downstairs to prepare my camera gear and hiking pack for the day. It was then, about 15 minutes before I left the house, I found the “House Instruction Guide” written by the owners. What a handy guide! It had everything one needs to know that is renting the place, including where the thermostat was located and how to turn on the heat! I am a dumb dumb.
I walked the few minutes in the totally still and quiet Conwy to get my car, drive it to the house and load up. This time as I drove up Chapel Street, I didn’t hit anything! It was just under an hour drive from where I was staying to where I was meeting Simon, the landscape photographer I was hiking with both Friday and Sunday. And what a drive it was…
For some reason, I cannot judge the distance from the passenger side of the car to the edge of the road. I hit several curbs at speed, once there was a spark. Unfamiliar with their light/cone system for single late closures, I turned back onto my side of the road too soon and took down about 20 cones weaving in and then out of the construction zone. Luckily, no construction workers were on the road at 6am. I ran into/through several hedges. Oh, and I was driving at least 40 miles UNDER the speed limit. I’m pretty sure the people behind me thought I was drunk. Or maybe they knew I was American?
I finally made it to the parking lot where I would meet Simon. I was a bit early, so I got out to prep my camera gear and food for the hike. But first, I thought I should check the passenger side of the car to see if there was any damage. Upon getting out of the car, the smell of burning rubber was strong even on the driver’s side. As I made my way to the passenger side, I noticed why. The tire had been rubbed pretty raw and there was a piece/chunk hanging off of it. Also, the rims were scratched down to the shiny metal. Oh and there was only one small scratch that removed the paint down to the steel from the front to the back on the bottom of the car. I am so glad I was talked into all that insurance!
Anyway, Simon came and we chatted as we got geared up for the hike and we were chatting about the smell of burning rubber in the air. I mentioned my driving issues and he checked over my tire and car. After laughing, he said it should be fine but I should stay away from curbs moving forward.
The day was too amazing to recall all the details. We hiked more than 10 miles and nearly 1000 feet of elevation. Stopping many times to find the perfect vantage point for photographs. We had Eryri (Snowdonia) pretty much to ourselves and it was magical. The mountain lakes and the reflections were beautiful. We encountered many cascades and interesting trees and just the most beautiful vistas. While I wanted to photograph all of them, for some I just stayed present and in the moment so I could soak up the peace and beauty to fill my very depleted cup of joy and peace.
One funny story, as we were descending a rather steep part of the mountain, Simon was in front of me. I slipped on a very slick rock and slid to within inches of taking him out like a bowling pin. Luckily for both of us, I literally popped upright just as he was turning around. Saving him a broken leg and me utter embarrassment!
As the day grew to a close and all the photos were taken, we loaded our respective cars and prepared to leave my beautiful Eryri having climbed (but not to the summit ) Yr Wyddf, experienced Cwm Idwal and seen the mighty Tryfan. It was a magical day spent with a great new friend. So great of a friend, he let me follow him out so as to not endanger anymore of the beautiful Welsh landscape or myself.
I arrived at my accommodation just on the outskirts of Wrexham called Cefn Park. A gorgeous stately property which several different holiday lets available. I rented the Butler’s Flat. After I parked my car, I needed to use the bathroom in a rather emergent way, so I left all my bags in the car, got the key from the key box and headed up the stairs to my home for the next 4 days. No issue getting in, the place was beautiful and clean and the bathroom worked as expected with all the necessary equipment to relieve oneself. I sat for a moment in the kitchen, had a drink of water then was leaving the flat to retrieve my bags and gear. Just one small hiccup…I was unable to actually open the door from the inside.
After multiple tries to solve my problem on my own, I finally contacted the owner who was on his way to assist. I had for gotten to mention my odor from hiking more than 10 miles and sliding around in mud and God knows how much sheep poo. I smelled so bad. In the few minutes it took him to get to my flat, I tried to figure out how to hid the stench. I opened the windows since it was such a nice day, but that barely touched it. As he arrived and came in, I blurted out in a not so elegant way, “I’m really sorry I smell like a sheep. I’ve been hiking all day and have extreme body odor and I’m American.” Super smooth, Koog.
He was very gentlemenly about it and said since he had been working in his cow barn, he didn’t smell anything. I’m not sure if I was happy or sad about his nose blindness. Anyway, he was able to fix the issue with the lock and I was able to get my gear upstairs and finally take a much needed shower. I was too tired to go out to get any groceries so I ate what I had left from the day 1/2 a pork pie, 1 welsh cake and 1/4 Aero chocolate bar. I called my family to be sure they knew I was alive and headed to bed.
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